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You cannot compare drivers who raced in a time when if you went off the track there was a good chance that would be your last action with anyone in the last 20 years. Fans who are old enough to remember Jim Clarke know how good he was because no matter how much you read or watch some things need to be experienced and Clarke was one. I started watching just after his death and his supreme talent was never underestimated. To critisize one driver over another to try and undermine their achievements also does not work, drivers used to try and throw dirt and debris into the path of their rivals, teams were built one driver. It has all gone on before. Schumacher has just about ever record worth holding in F1 but he is hardly short of critics. Senna, because of his death has been placed near to sainthood even though as a driver he had many critics. 3 times champions like Piquet have been virtually forgotten about and when remembered the actions of his son are mentioned. Nothing has changed in the 40 plus years I’ve watched, only the names.

Itchyes, I think you know too much! They had several changes to the nose and body. I still feel that F1 was about change and development and it’s still why I think that it should be allowed today. Whats the point of having a car that can’t be modified? Just think of the fun if someone thought that 12ltr V20 was the way to go six races into the season.

I can’t see how you can state the he would have been so much better than Alonso. However since he announced 2 days ago the he is going to run his own rally team (ice 1 racing) financed by his Finnish financial sponsor and using a renault DS3 works car the chance of him ever looking for a drive in F1 seems very far away.

Ferrari had been after Alonso since Schumacher left but as we all know F1 is never that simple. Here in Italy it was always a question of time before he came. Kimi did well in his first year but never escaped from the fact that here most people think he won because Mclaren threw it away. The 2009 car was a dog and Kimi lost interest, Massa showed him up and also showed that before Hungary the car was poor but not the worst. Alonso/santander were ready and willing there was no better outcome. Alonso showed that he will always try and give 100% where that did lack in Kimi. Ferrari will always accept not winning but they will never accept a driver not trying. Ferrari could not have a better driver at the present as a driver, spokesman and figure head.

James Hunt was often in a car after all night parties where much drink and drugs were taken. He also claimed to have driven at brands hatch after taking LSD( Murray Walker also talks of it in one of his books). Hardly a performance enhancing drug but possibly not the best thing to take before climbing into a race car.

To say that it was part of the sport does not really excuse what happened but it must give hope that it won’t happen again. Sadly I can’t see a time when noboby will be killed in motorsport and if it were to happen again it will be because of circumstance rather than design. The days of drivers being thrown out of cars or hitting trees/fences/spectators have gone along with fires but the combination of events will always be there.

One of the best things to have happened in the sport is the improvement in safety and the survival of drivers after crashes that few would have climbed out of previously.

I have watched since 1970 and have sadly seen too many die not only if F1 but F1 drivers in other events.

The first one I remember was Rindt at Monza in 1970. I remember watching the footage and thinking (even at an early age) that they could not show someone die on TV and how the race still went ahead.

The death of Cevert was the first one to really get to me, I had really liked him as a driver and he was the team mate of my favourite driver at the time. I remember not wanting to go to school on the Monday and nobody really understanding why I was so upset by it.

When Tom Price died at the South African GP it was by far the worst I have seen. He hit a fire marshal who disintegrated on impact and the extinguisher he was holding hit Price on the head with both of them being killed in an instant.

I was at Imola when both Senna and Ratzenberger died although I had left on the Saturday night and thankfully was not there on the Sunday. I was working alongside Jordan at the time and after the accident with Rubens on the Friday everyone was very quiet not knowing if (or how he would be if) he was going to survive. The death of Ratzenberger on the Saturday was my first being at the circuit and I was relieved (in a way) to be leaving the GP that night.

Unfortunately there have been too many who gave there lives for our sport and we must all appreciate and not forget them or become complacent.

It would be interesting to hear from some of the older members of their memories.

I agree mostly with what has been said about Newey although we have to remember that no team has continual top status and what Williams achieved from Alan Jones and pretty much kept for near on 15 years cannot be underestimated. Newey is the top designer at the present but he has also built some very fragile cars wherever he has been. I always had a soft spot for Head and Williams and how they always seemed to be the main team that always worked outside the box. Their fall must also have a lot to do with inconsistent and poor engines for far too long.

the problem is along with a very slow car he has been beaten by everyone else who has driven the HRT this year. The name means nothing without the Ayton in front of it. We have had several sons of drivers and they all did their own thing. Trying to link with deceased uncles is a bit much. Mclaren have never been my favourite team(or even close) but not even I could wish for such a pairing.